Before the expiry date. Not after. There is no grace period.
Get a QuoteYour program got extended. Your visa got extended. Your co-op placement turned into something longer. Whatever the reason, if your student travel insurance is about to expire and you're still abroad, you need to extend — and you need to do it before the expiry date.
Before your current policy expires. There is no grace period. If your policy lapses, you're uninsured for any new medical issue — and you may not be able to buy a new policy from outside your home country.
Contact your insurer before the expiry date. Most student plans allow extensions if you're still enrolled and your visa is valid. You'll pay a pro-rated premium for the additional period.
Any new medical issue after the lapse is on you. And if you try to buy a new policy, the insurer will ask about your current health — any issue that arose during the gap may be treated as a pre-existing condition.
If your study permit is extended, your insurance should match. If you transition from student to work permit (like a PGWP), your student insurance may no longer apply — you'll need a different policy.
Extend your student coverage before it expires — a lapse means you're uninsured and may not be able to get a new policy.
Get a Quote Learn more about student plansOne night in a Canadian ICU can top $14,000 — without coverage, that's on you.
Cost reality